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This is a list of ''Chieftains of the [[Dúnedain]]'' Rangers of [[Arnor]] (aka Rangers of the North).
The '''Chieftains of the Dúnedain''' were the hereditary rulers of the [[Rangers of the North]].  


# [[Aranarth]] (Chieftain for 131 years to III 2106) The heir of [[Arvedui]], who would have become King of [[Arthedain]] if not for the destruction of his realm by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]]. He saw his loss avenged, though, when a great army of [[Dúnedain]] out of [[Gondor]], led by [[Eärnur]], wiped out the Witch-king's own realm of [[Angmar]]. During his time, the [[Watchful Peace]] began, and the [[Heir of Isildur|Heirs of Isildur]] had peace until the time of [[Arahad I]]. 
The title was created following the final destruction of [[Arthedain]] in {{TA|1974}} by the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]]. The heir to the throne of Arthedain, [[Aranarth]] son of [[Arvedui]], in {{TA|1976}} chose not to claim the kingship and instead ruled the remnants of his people as Chieftain.<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> The Chieftains were raised in [[Rivendell]], where the heirlooms of the [[House of Isildur]], were also kept.
# [[Arahael]] (Chieftain for 71 years to III 2177)
# [[Aranuir]] (Chieftain for 70 years to III 2247)
# [[Aravir]] (Chieftain for 72 years to III 2319)
# [[Aragorn I]] (Chieftain for 8 years to III 2327) The first Aragorn, after whom Aragorn of the [[War of the Ring]] was named, lost his life in eastern [[Eriador]], where he was slain by wolves. 
# [[Araglas]] (Chieftain for 128 years to III 2455)
# [[Arahad I]] (Chieftain for 68 years to III 2523) In his time, the evil that had once dwelt in [[Dol Guldur]] returned, and the Watchful Peace came to an end. In the eighth year of his reign, the [[White Council]] was formed, a matter that Arahad must surely have been aware of, if he was not directly involved himself. As the years drew on, the extent of the danger from the east became more evident; the [[Misty Mountains]] were filled with [[Orcs]], and near the end of Arahad's time as Chieftain, [[Celebrían]] the wife of [[Elrond]] was captured and tortured by them. 
# [[Aragost]] (Chieftain for 65 years to III 2588)
# [[Aravorn]] (Chieftain for 66 years to III 2654)
# [[Arahad II]] (Chieftain for 65 years to III 2719)
# [[Arassuil]] (Chieftain for 65 years to III 2784) Arassuil saw Eriador openly invaded by Orcs out of the Misty Mountains, who penetrated as far west as the [[Shire]]. The period between III 2745 and III 2748 is recorded as being the time of worst warfare, and it was in this time that the [[Battle of Greenfields]] was fought in the [[Northfarthing]]. Arassuil was Chieftain at the time of the [[Long Winter]]. 
# [[Arathorn I]] (Chieftain for 64 years to III 2848) It is known that Arathorn met an untimely end, though no records remain of his fate. Perhaps he was slain by Orcs or [[wolves]], though the worst of the fighting with the Orcs of the Mountains had been over for a century before his death. 
# [[Argonui]] (Chieftain for 64 years to III 2912) The last winter of Argonui's rule was the so-called [[Fell Winter]], in which the northern lands were troubled by [[White Wolves]] out of the north, and the floods from the snow-melts of the following spring spread destruction far and wide. 
# [[Arador]] (Chieftain for 18 years to III 2930) Arador enjoyed only a short time as Chieftain, during which he saw his son Arathorn wed [[Gilraen]]. Soon after, journeying in the fells north of [[Rivendell]], he was captured by [[hill-trolls]] and slain. 
# [[Arathorn II]] (Chieftain for 3 years to III 2933) Arathorn's time as leader of the [[Rangers]] was even shorter than his father's. After just three years as Chieftain, he went hunting Orcs with [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]], and was shot by an arrow. He was succeeded by his son Aragorn, then just two years old. 
# [[Aragorn II]] (Chieftain for 86 years to III 30191) Most famous of all the Chieftains, Aragorn had great friendship with the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]]. He journeyed the length and breadth of [[Middle-earth]], doing heroic deeds in the service of both [[Rohan]] and [[Gondor]]. He played a great part in the [[War of the Ring]], and at its end as rightful Heir of Isildur took up the Kingship of his noble ancestor, reuniting the Northern and Southern Kingdoms after more than three thousand years.


They were descendants of [[Isildur]] through the kings of [[Arthedain]]<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> and [[Anárion]] through [[Fíriel]];<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> as such they regarded themselves as the legitimate heirs to both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. The Chieftains continued to take the kingly prefix of ''[[ara|ar(a)-]]'', to signify their royal heritage and their right to rule Arnor. When the line of [[Anárion]] failed, the Chieftains considered themselves the heirs of Anárion through their ancestor [[Fíriel]]; none of the Chieftains ever forgot Arvedui's claim to the throne.<ref name="Third">{{PM|Third}}</ref>
The people of Arthedain became known as the [[Rangers of the North]], a wandering people quite content with living in secret. Due to the destruction of Angmar, and the [[Watchful Peace]], which followed after [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] drove [[Sauron]] out of [[Dol Guldur]], there was little evil in [[Eriador]] and attacks by the enemy were few and far between.
It is notable that most of the Chieftains lived out their full life-span and their longevity did not decrease as much as that of the [[Gondorians]].<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, p. 69</ref>
[[Aragorn|Aragorn II]] became the last Chieftain when he reclaimed the title of [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King of the Reunited Kingdom]].
The Chieftains of the Dúnedain<ref>{{App|North}}</ref> were:
# [[Aranarth]], {{TA|1975}}&ndash;{{TA|2106|n}}, son of [[King of Arthedain|King]] [[Arvedui]] of [[Arthedain]].
# [[Arahael]], {{TA|2106}}&ndash;{{TA|2177|n}}.
# [[Aranuir]], {{TA|2177}}&ndash;{{TA|2247|n}}.
# [[Aravir]], {{TA|2247}}&ndash;{{TA|2319|n}}.
# [[Aragorn I]], {{TA|2319}}&ndash;{{TA|2327|n}}.
# [[Araglas]], {{TA|2327}}&ndash;{{TA|2455|n}}.
# [[Arahad I]], {{TA|2455}}&ndash;{{TA|2523|n}}.
# [[Aragost]], {{TA|2523}}&ndash;{{TA|2588|n}}.
# [[Aravorn]], {{TA|2588}}&ndash;{{TA|2654|n}}.
# [[Arahad II]], {{TA|2654}}&ndash;{{TA|2719|n}}.
# [[Arassuil]], {{TA|2719}}&ndash;{{TA|2784|n}}.
# [[Arathorn I]], {{TA|2784}}&ndash;{{TA|2848|n}}.
# [[Argonui]], {{TA|2848}}&ndash;{{TA|2912|n}}.
# [[Arador]], {{TA|2912}}&ndash;{{TA|2930|n}}.
# [[Arathorn II]], {{TA|2930}}&ndash;{{TA|2933|n}}.
# [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]], {{TA|2933}}&ndash;{{TA|3019|n}}, first [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King of the Reunited Kingdom]].
==See Also==
For the family tree of the Chieftains, as well as that of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain, see the [[House of Isildur]].
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[[Category:Rulers of Middle-earth]]
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[[fi:Dúnedainin päämiehet]]

Revision as of 03:06, 22 July 2018

The Chieftains of the Dúnedain were the hereditary rulers of the Rangers of the North.

The title was created following the final destruction of Arthedain in T.A. 1974 by the Witch-king of Angmar. The heir to the throne of Arthedain, Aranarth son of Arvedui, in T.A. 1976 chose not to claim the kingship and instead ruled the remnants of his people as Chieftain.[1] The Chieftains were raised in Rivendell, where the heirlooms of the House of Isildur, were also kept.

They were descendants of Isildur through the kings of Arthedain[2] and Anárion through Fíriel;[3] as such they regarded themselves as the legitimate heirs to both Arnor and Gondor. The Chieftains continued to take the kingly prefix of ar(a)-, to signify their royal heritage and their right to rule Arnor. When the line of Anárion failed, the Chieftains considered themselves the heirs of Anárion through their ancestor Fíriel; none of the Chieftains ever forgot Arvedui's claim to the throne.[4]

The people of Arthedain became known as the Rangers of the North, a wandering people quite content with living in secret. Due to the destruction of Angmar, and the Watchful Peace, which followed after Wizard Gandalf drove Sauron out of Dol Guldur, there was little evil in Eriador and attacks by the enemy were few and far between.

It is notable that most of the Chieftains lived out their full life-span and their longevity did not decrease as much as that of the Gondorians.[5]

Aragorn II became the last Chieftain when he reclaimed the title of High King of the Reunited Kingdom.

The Chieftains of the Dúnedain[6] were:

  1. Aranarth, T.A. 19752106, son of King Arvedui of Arthedain.
  2. Arahael, T.A. 21062177.
  3. Aranuir, T.A. 21772247.
  4. Aravir, T.A. 22472319.
  5. Aragorn I, T.A. 23192327.
  6. Araglas, T.A. 23272455.
  7. Arahad I, T.A. 24552523.
  8. Aragost, T.A. 25232588.
  9. Aravorn, T.A. 25882654.
  10. Arahad II, T.A. 26542719.
  11. Arassuil, T.A. 27192784.
  12. Arathorn I, T.A. 27842848.
  13. Argonui, T.A. 28482912.
  14. Arador, T.A. 29122930.
  15. Arathorn II, T.A. 29302933.
  16. Aragorn II, T.A. 29333019, first High King of the Reunited Kingdom.

See Also

For the family tree of the Chieftains, as well as that of the Kings of Arnor and Arthedain, see the House of Isildur.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VIII. The Tale of Years of the Third Age"
  5. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 69
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"